1Short titleThis regulation may be cited as the Rural and Regional Adjustment (Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2022.2CommencementThis regulation commences on 1 July 2022, immediately after the commencement of the Rural and Regional Adjustment (Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2022.3Regulation amendedThis regulation amends the Rural and Regional Adjustment Regulation 2011.4Amendment of s 3 (Approvals of schemes—Act, s 11)Section 3(1), ‘42’—omit, insert—435Insertion of new sch 43After schedule 42—insert—Schedule 43 Electric vehicle charging infrastructure schemesection 3(1)Part 1Preliminary 1Objective of schemeThe objective of the scheme is to encourage the use of electric vehicles by providing financial assistance for the installation or upgrade of infrastructure for charging electric vehicles for public use.2Purpose of assistanceThe purpose of financial assistance under the scheme is to help particular entities pay for projects that install or upgrade infrastructure for charging electric vehicles for public use.3Definitions for schemeIn this schedule— approved form means a form approved by the authority.eligible project see section 4.priority zone A means any of the following places—

(a)Agnes Water;

(b)Airlie Beach;

(c)Bundaberg;

(d)Cairns;

(e)Emu Park;

(f)Gladstone;

(g)Hervey Bay;

(h)Ingham;

(i)Mackay;

(j)Rainbow Beach;

(k)Rockhampton;

(l)Seventeen Seventy;

(m)Tannum Sands;

(n)Toowoomba;

(o)Yeppoon.

priority zone B means any of the following places—

(a)Alpha;

(b)Atherton;

(c)Augathella;

(d)Banana;

(e)Biloela;

(f)Dalby;

(g)Gayndah;

(h)Goomeri;

(i)Mareeba;

(j)Mitchell;

(k)Monto;

(l)Moonie;

(m)Nanango;

(n)Pentland;

(o)Tambo;

(p)Taroom.

priority zone C means any place that is not within priority zone A or priority zone B.scheme means the scheme set out in this schedule.4Meaning of eligible project(1)An eligible project is a project the authority is satisfied will install or upgrade infrastructure for charging electric vehicles,  with the following characteristics—

(a)charging bays allowing access to charging stations that are able to charge vehicles at a rate of at least 75kW DC for each hour;

(b)at least 1 charging station with a 22kW AC charging plug;

(c)charging stations powered solely by renewable energy;

(d)for charging stations within priority zone A—at least 4 charging bays;

(e)for charging stations within priority zone B or priority zone C—at least 2 charging bays;

(f)charging bays available for public use.

(2)In this section—charging bay means a space designed to park an electric vehicle for charging the vehicle.charging plug means a part of the charging station that can be plugged into an electric vehicle to charge the vehicle. charging station means equipment for charging an electric vehicle.Part 2General provisions for scheme5Nature and amount of assistance(1)The nature of assistance available under the scheme is a grant of financial assistance to an entity for an eligible project.(2)The amount of financial assistance available is up to 50% of the total project cost for an eligible project, to a maximum amount of $3m.(3)In this section—total project cost, for an eligible project—

(a)means the total of the capital costs for—

(i)purchasing infrastructure for the project; and

(ii)installing and commissioning the infrastructure; but

(b)does not include a cost—

(i)related to purchasing land on which the infrastructure will be installed; or

(ii)related to preparing an expression of interest or application for financial assistance under the scheme; or

(iii)related to sales or promotional activity for the project; or

(iv)incurred after the infrastructure is installed and ready for use, including for example, any cost for ongoing maintenance, administration, operation or subsequent improvement of the infrastructure.

6Scheme to operate in 2 stages(1)The scheme will operate in 2 stages.(2)The first stage of the scheme is an expression of interest stage.(3)The second stage of the scheme is an application stage.(4)The first stage of the scheme will open on the day stated on the authority’s website as the day on or after which an expression of interest in applying for financial assistance under the scheme may be made.(5)The first stage of the scheme will close on the day stated on the authority’s website as the day on which the stage closes.7Eligibility criteria(1)For an entity to receive financial assistance under the scheme the entity must—

(a)be carrying out activities that benefit Queensland’s economy or support communities in Queensland; and

(b)be applying for financial assistance for an eligible project; and

(c)not have received other government funding for the eligible project.

(2)In this section—government funding—

(a)means funding, other than a loan, provided by the Commonwealth government, the government of a State or a local government; but

(b)does not include funding contributed to an eligible project by the entity undertaking the project.

8Expression of interest stage(1)Before an entity may apply for financial assistance under the scheme, the entity must give the authority an expression of interest in applying for financial assistance under the scheme.(2)The expression of interest must—

(a)be made in the approved form; and

(b)be accompanied by the documents stated in the approved form; and

(c)be given to the authority on or before the day mentioned in section 6(5).

(3)The authority must decide to accept or reject each expression of interest made by an entity under subsections (1) and (2).(4)If the authority decides to accept the expression of interest, the authority must give the entity a written notice stating—

(a)the entity is invited to apply for financial assistance under the scheme; and

(b)the day on or before which the application must be made.

(5)If the authority decides to reject the expression of interest, the authority must give the entity written notice of the decision.9Application stage(1)An application for financial assistance under the scheme may be made only by an entity invited by the authority to apply for assistance under section 8(4).(2)The application must—

(a)be made in the approved form; and

(b)be accompanied by the documents stated in the approved form; and

(c)be given to the authority on or before the day stated in the notice given under section 8(4) to the entity applying for assistance.

(3)If the authority asks an entity to provide further information to decide the entity’s application, the entity must provide the information.10Deciding applications(1)The authority must decide to approve or refuse to approve each application made under section 9.(2)The authority may, with the agreement of the entity applying for assistance, approve an amount of financial assistance that is less than the amount applied for.(3)The authority must refuse to approve an application for financial assistance if the authority’s assistance funds for the scheme are not enough to pay for the assistance.(4)If the authority refuses to approve an application made by an entity, the authority must give the entity written notice of the decision.11Priority of consideration for approval of applications(1)The authority must consider approving applications for financial assistance for eligible projects under the scheme in the following order of priority—

(a)firstly—applications the authority considers will provide the greatest benefit to an area within priority zone A or priority zone B in relation to the scheme’s objective;

(b)secondly—applications the authority considers will provide the greatest benefit to an area within priority zone C in relation to the scheme’s objective.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the authority may consider the following matters in relation to prioritising an application for financial assistance for an eligible project—

(a)whether the project represents reasonable value for money;

(b)the location of, and demand for, the project;

(c)the quality of the project design;

(d)how and when the project will be operational and fit for use;

(e)the demonstrated experience and knowledge of the persons who will be installing or upgrading infrastructure for the project;

(f)the extent to which the project may create or support employment or economic growth in a priority zone.

12Conditions of assistanceThe payment to an entity of a grant of financial assistance under the scheme is subject to the following conditions—

(a)before receiving the assistance, the entity must enter into a written agreement with the authority that sets out the terms on which the assistance is provided;

(b)the entity must comply with the terms of the agreement mentioned in paragraph (a).

13Payment of assistance(1)The authority may make a grant of financial assistance under the scheme to an entity only if the authority is satisfied the entity has complied with the terms of the agreement mentioned in section 12.(2)The authority may make the grant in a single payment or in instalments, at intervals decided by the authority.